Azerbaijan unveils number of expected container block trains from China via Middle Corridor

Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways company Rovshan Rustamov has said that approximately 300 container block trains are expected to be dispatched from China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) till late 2024.

Rustamov made these remarks during a consultative meeting of railway administration heads aimed at establishing the International Association "Eurasian Transport Route" in Baku, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He emphasised that Azerbaijan, in collaboration with its partners, is prioritising container transportation and the passage of block trains through the corridor to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness.

"An agreement on cargo transportation from China via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line has been reached. The first container train from Xi'an, China, arrived in Baku within just 11 days in March 2024. On average, block trains are sent from China to Azerbaijan within 8-10 days, and to the ports of Georgia within 12 days. By the end of this year, approximately 300 container block trains are expected to be dispatched from China along the Middle Corridor, equivalent to about 30,000 TEUs or up to 420,000 tons of cargo," Rustamov added.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is an integral component of the Belt and Road Initiative, established to create a direct transportation link from Asia to Europe. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route starts from Southeast Asia and China, runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to European countries. It aims to facilitate trade and economic cooperation by connecting major economic regions through a network of railways, highways, and maritime routes.

By Naila Huseynova